Monday, March 02, 2009

Tehran, Feb 28, 2009: Studies show that 80 to 100 Asian cheetahs live in Iran+s national parks and protected areas.

Director-general of Wildlife and Natural History Museums of the Department of Environment says the national parks and protected areas where the big cats roam include Naybandan, Darreh-Anjir (fig valley), Bafq, Touran National Park in Semnan province, Ravar National Park in Kerman province, Dasht-e Abbas Nain region in Isfahan, Kalmand and Bahadoran regions in Yazd province, and Mian-Dasht region in South Khorasan province, IRNA reported.

Referring to the measures to protect the wild animals in cooperation with non-governmental, national and international organizations, as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Hassan Mohammadi said the plan is based on protecting cheetah habitats and their prey.

“We are trying to extend the plan for another two to three years. A total of 30 rangers are stationed in important habitats to protect the cats their own habitats,“ he said.

Mohammadi also referred to reorganizing the zebra population in Gourab of Yazd and transferring them to natural and bigger habitats. He noted that plans are underway to revive the population of the yellow deer in their main habitats, including Karkheh and Dez in Khuzestan province, Ilam and Kohkilouyeh-Boyerahmad, and transfer 30 yellow deer to the area in line with the policy if promoting wildlife in the country